Publication date: 05 January 2018

The Royal College of General Practitioners in Wales have welcomed Welsh Government measures to combat winter pressures but have called for earlier action in the future.

The Welsh Government has announced that the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) will be relaxed until the end of March 2018. QOF was also suspended in January 2017 as a response to winter pressures.

The Welsh Government has also announced that an additional £10million will be given to health and social care services, supporting health boards, the ambulance service and social care services.

Dr Rebecca Payne, Chair of RCGP Wales, said:

"We welcome the relaxation of the quality and outcomes framework (QOF), which will mean GPs spend more time treating patients and less time ticking boxes. Everyone is aware of the challenges the winter months bring. In the last two years QOF has suspended in January and in the future we hope this measure can take place earlier, as soon as winter pressures start to hit.

"At the start of last month RCGP Wales raised concerns that not enough GPs were being included in winter pressure planning and this needs to change.

"The extra funding is of course welcome. We hope the money is not swallowed up in wider budgets; we urge health boards to allocate specific funding to support general practice and out of hours services which are under enormous strain. A thriving primary care sector will deliver care in people's communities and keep patients out of hospitals, to the benefit of the entire Welsh NHS."

Further Information

Notes to editor

The Royal College of GPs Wales represents a network of around 2,000 GPs, aiming to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on resources, education, training, research and clinical standards.